Overview
- The Supreme Court on February 5 directed West Bengal to clear dearness allowance arrears for 2008–2019 and to pay 25% by March 31, 2026.
- The judgment rejected a right to DA parity with central employees and said twice-yearly DA revisions are at the State’s discretion.
- Union minister Bhupender Yadav accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of fighting a legal battle against her own employees on DA and called for an apology.
- The Bengal government has formed a five-member committee to review the Supreme Court directive, as reported by The New Indian Express.
- Reported estimates indicate an immediate cost a little over Rs 10,000 crore and a longer-term burden of about Rs 42,000 crore for the state.